[note Q&A Box] Summary of Q&A regarding costs and cost-performance | LLC-HOUSE

(Updated July 20, 2026)

Thank you for visiting our summary of Q&A regarding share houses!

LLC-HOUSE shares information on our note about the mechanisms we use to maintain rent in the 30,000 yen range in Tokyo, as well as our unique cost-cutting efforts. Among the questions received from readers in our note Q&A box, we have compiled the answers to “Questions regarding costs and cost-performance” concerning tips for choosing a share house and our company's unique know-how here.
We will continue to add questions and answers and update this summary article as needed.

《Q&A Box Magazine》

《Other Q&A Summaries》

Summary of Q&A regarding property quality and facilities

Summary of answers to questions regarding contracts and reliability

Summary of answers to questions regarding trouble and move-out procedures

Summary of answers to questions regarding location and living environment

Summary of answers to questions regarding tenant demographics and compatibility

■ List of received questions and answers (in order of new questions / answers)

▶ Q | Are daily consumables such as toilet paper, dish soap, and trash bags included in the common service fee? Do tenants have to split the cost to go buy them, or do they have to pay out of pocket?

There is no need for tenants to split costs, nor for anyone to pay in advance to go shopping. Tenants do not incur any separate purchase costs for the covered common consumables.

■ Consumables included in the common service fee are posted within the property
At LLC-HOUSE, a list of common consumables replenished by the common service fee is posted in the common area of each property.
Because we clarify which items are subject to replenishment by the management company,
there is no need for tenants to decide among themselves
“Is this included in the common service fee?”
or “Do we need to buy this ourselves?”

By checking the list posted in the property, you can always know which consumables are subject to replenishment.

■ When consumables run low, you can order them via the tenant-only form
Each property has a tenant-only consumable ordering form.
When stock of items like toilet paper or trash bags runs low, tenants send an order request via the dedicated form. The ordering process is as follows:

There is no need for tenants to go to a store to buy them, pay in advance, or collect money from other tenants.

■ Why we ask for orders before stock runs out
Once an order request is received, the management company processes it promptly and, in principle, arranges shipment via Amazon Business. However, unexpected delivery delays may occur due to product stock status, delivery company conditions, or weather.
Therefore, we ask that you send order requests with plenty of time before they run out completely, rather than waiting until they are gone.
This is not a rule to make tenants bear the cost of purchase or shopping, but a rule to prevent common item stockouts and maintain a state where necessary items can be used continuously.

■ What kind of trouble occurs if consumables are left to the tenants?
If the purchase and management of consumables in a share house are left to the tenants, the following problems may occur.

Even if the amount for each item is small, if the burden is skewed toward specific people, it leads to a sense of unfairness and interpersonal trouble.
At LLC-HOUSE, to prevent such problems, the management company centrally manages purchase costs and shipping arrangements rather than having tenants manage the money among themselves.

■ All tenants need to do is "notify us"
What LLC-HOUSE tenants do is notify us via a dedicated form when consumables are running low. There is no burden such as the following.

The division of roles is that tenants notify us of a decrease in stock, and the management company handles the actual purchase, payment, and delivery arrangements.

■ Daily necessities for personal use are not covered
What is included in the common service fee are designated consumables for shared use within the property. On the other hand, the following personal items are, in principle, provided by each tenant.

Common consumables subject to replenishment are posted in the common areas of each property, so you can check the scope of coverage.

■ LLC-HOUSE emphasizes "operational mechanisms that do not rely on specific individuals"
At LLC-HOUSE, we do not leave the purchase and replenishment of consumables solely to the goodwill or initiative of specific tenants. We list the consumables purchased with the common service fee, provide an order form exclusively for tenants, and the management company arranges purchases and deliveries using Amazon Business.
As a result, the only burden on tenants is the task of notifying us when stock is running low.There is no financial or time burden such as shopping, paying out of pocket, collecting money, or settling accounts.
When choosing a share house, it is important to check not only whether consumables are included in the common service fee, but also "who requests replenishment, who bears the purchase cost, and how it is delivered to the property."

▶ Q | I heard that even if a share house facility says "washing machine/dryer available," in reality, many properties are coin-operated and cost about 300-500 yen each time. I'm worried that the monthly coin laundry cost will be significant.

At LLC-HOUSE, with the exception of three properties (Fujimidai, Iriya, and Minowa), you can use the washing machine and dryer at no additional charge. The usage fee is included in the rent. For the three exceptional properties, we have set the rent lower to account for the monthly costs of washing and drying.

■ Why are washing machines and dryers generally included in the rent?
The reason LLC-HOUSE generally does not charge extra for washing machines and dryers is to avoid a situation where small payments accumulate after moving in while making the rent look cheap.
In daily life at a share house, laundry is an unavoidable daily expense. Even if the amount per time seems small, it becomes a large burden when accumulated every month and every year.
At LLC-HOUSE, we emphasize cost performance that includes not only the displayed rent but also the actual living expenses incurred after moving in.

■ How much does a coin-operated washing machine/dryer in a share house cost per month?
If washing costs 200 yen per time and drying costs 500 yen per time, using it 2-3 times a week results in an additional monthly burden of approximately 5,600-8,400 yen.
The breakdown, calculated assuming 4 weeks in a month, is as follows.

When calculated as approximately 4.3 weeks in a calendar month, the actual burden is generally 6,000-9,000 yen per month . Annually, this amounts to approximately 70,000-110,000 yen, so if you choose a property looking only at rent and common service fees, your living expenses may quietly increase more than expected.

■ "Washing machine/dryer available" does not mean you know the price
Even if property information for a share house says "washing machine/dryer available," it does not necessarily mean they can be used for free.
Before moving in, it is important to check the following points.

Even if the rent is several thousand yen cheaper per month, if washing and drying cost 6,000-9,000 yen every month, the actual housing cost will be higher. When comparing properties, you need to check not only the displayed rent but also the living costs that will continue to occur after moving in.

■ For dryers, check not only the price but also whether they are gas or electric
When checking dryers, it is important to consider not only whether they are paid or free, but also whether they are gas or electric.
Generally, gas dryers dry clothes relatively quickly, while electric dryers may not dry them completely even after long operation, depending on the machine's output and the amount of laundry.
If a paid electric dryer costs 500 yen per use and you need to extend the time because it didn't dry in one go, a single laundry and drying session could end up costing over 1,200 yen.

Therefore, it is reassuring to check the following points before moving in:
・Is the dryer gas or electric?
・How many minutes is one use?
・Does it have the performance to dry sufficiently in one go?

■ When choosing a property, it is important to compare the "actual monthly burden"
When choosing a share house, we recommend comparing not only the rent and common service fees but also the following costs.
LLC-HOUSE has planned and operated over 20 share houses in Tokyo and has over 10 years of operational experience. Based on that experience, we focus not just on low rent, but on minimizing the small expenses that arise after moving in and making the total monthly expenditure easy to understand.
When comparing share house costs, it is important to judge based on "how much it actually costs per month", including laundry and drying, rather than just the displayed rent.

▶ Q | I am looking for a share house in Tokyo and a cheap share house in the 30,000 yen range is attractive, but it's so cheap that I'm suspicious. Are there any traps, like it being a stigmatized property or being forced to do illegal things, that I might regret after moving in?

It is because we have built a sustainable operating model that benefits all three parties—the tenant, the property owner, and the management company—by utilizing properties with good access and focusing on dormitories.

LLC-HOUSE has planned and operated over 20 share houses in Tokyo and has over 10 years of operational track record.To date, we have never closed a property due to our own convenience or operational flaws.

■ Reasons why LLC-HOUSE can offer properties starting from the 30,000 yen range. At LLC-HOUSE, we focus on balancing the following three things:

To balance these three, LLC-HOUSE focuses on dormitory types, which are easier to offer at a lower price than private rooms.
By sharing facilities such as kitchens, bathrooms, and toilets, and having multiple people use the living spaces, we keep housing costs per person low. Furthermore, by utilizing vacant houses and existing homes, and handling everything from property planning to tenant support in-house, we reduce intermediate costs and unnecessary operating expenses.

■ "Three-way satisfaction" for tenants, property owners, and LLC-HOUSE
The low prices at LLC-HOUSE are not a system built by forcing unreasonable demands on any one party.

《Benefits for share house users》
Secure housing in Tokyo starting from the 30,000 yen range. Easy to balance convenience for commuting to work or school with low housing costs. Reduce the burden at the time of moving in with properties that have furniture and appliances. Can cook for yourself using shared facilities like the kitchen.
《Benefits for property owners》
Effectively utilize unused vacant houses or existing homes. Leave tenant recruitment and daily maintenance to LLC-HOUSE. Avoid leaving buildings abandoned and use them continuously. Aim for stable property operation.
《Benefits for LLC-HOUSE》
By focusing on dormitories, it is easier to continue operations even at low prices. By planning and managing in-house, we can accumulate operational know-how. Increase occupancy rates and operational efficiency to maintain properties long-term.

It is a structure that provides low-cost housing to tenants, utilization opportunities for property owners, and sustainable revenue for LLC-HOUSE.
Because the interests of these three parties are aligned, we can continue operations with suppressed rent over a long period, rather than just temporary bargain sales.

■ While cheap, there are points to note about dormitories
While dormitories are cheaper than private rooms, you may be concerned about differences in lifestyle with roommates. With over 10 years since our founding, LLC-HOUSE has accumulated know-how in dormitory environments and has been making updates so that people can live comfortably.
However, we do not consider dormitories to be "cheap housing suitable for everyone".
They are suitable for those who want to keep housing costs in Tokyo as low as possible and those who can share space with other tenants. On the other hand, they may not be suitable for those who prioritize complete privacy or a quiet living environment.

■ It is not cheap because it is a stigmatized property
The low prices at LLC-HOUSE are realized through operations centered on dormitories, the use of vacant houses and existing homes, and cost reduction through in-house management.
It is not our policy to hide that a property is stigmatized or to recruit at a low price without explaining what should be disclosed.
If there are matters to be disclosed that would affect the decision to contract, we will explain them before the contract.

■ We do not ask tenants to perform illegal acts
As a condition of moving in, we do not ask for participation in work, purchase of products, investment, solicitation, lending of names, provision of bank accounts, or receipt of packages.
What we ask of tenants is to pay the rent and live a communal life in accordance with the contract and house rules.

■ Please check before contracting for a cheap share house
When considering a share house that is cheaper than the market rate, not limited to LLC-HOUSE, it is important to check the following points.

LLC-HOUSE does not encourage moving in based solely on low rent, but rather has a policy of explaining the reasons why we can offer low prices, points to note about communal living, and contract conditions in advance, so that you can make a decision after being convinced.

▶ Q | When moving out of a share house, does the deposit (security deposit) paid at the time of moving in really come back? I'm worried because I've heard there are many troubles like "it's all amortized as a cleaning fee".

At LLC-HOUSE, we have not accepted any deposits since our founding, and there have been zero cases of charging high cleaning fees for normal move-outs.
I will disclose the actual market rates for cleaning fees based on the differences in "floor area" and "facilities" compared to general rental properties, explaining why "full amortization" is unreasonable.

1. "Appropriate Market Rate" for Share House Private Room Cleaning Fees
A private room in a share house (approx. 9㎡) is less than half the size of a general studio apartment (approx. 20㎡) and does not have water facilities such as a kitchen, bath, or toilet inside the room. Therefore, even when requested from a professional contractor, the actual cleaning cost is significantly lower as follows.

2. Behind the Scenes of the Industry: The Reality of Cleaning Costs
Currently, many share house operators have internalized room cleaning upon move-out by utilizing local gig work or spot work (cleaning agency apps, etc.) instead of large professional contractors.
In this case, the operator's actual cost for private room cleaning is in reality around "less than 5,000 yen + air conditioner cleaning fee of 16,500 yen = approx. 21,500 yen".
In contrast, fully amortizing a deposit of 50,000 to 80,000 yen significantly deviates from the actual costs.

■ "3 Major Checks Before Signing" to Prevent Malicious Deposit Amortization Troubles
Do not choose based solely on the apparent low rent, and be sure to confirm the following three points with the operator before signing the contract.

-Conclusion-
It is better not to choose a share house that attempts to amortize one month's rent as a deposit entirely for room cleaning fees in the first place.

▶ Q | Even if it says "utilities are included in the common service fee" at a share house, will I be charged extra if I use the air conditioner too much in summer or winter? I would also like to know the criteria for additional charges.

With the exception of some properties, LLC-HOUSE has 0 yen for separate utility costs in most properties. Since the fee structure is "fully inclusive" with utilities included in the rent, "fully inclusive type" we do not operate by saying, "The electricity bill was high this month, so please pay extra."

LLC-HOUSE has no criteria for additional charges based on air conditioner usage, but depending on other share house companies, even if it says "common service fee included" or "utilities included," there are cases where the contract actually stipulates that the amount exceeding a certain limit will be charged later at actual cost.
For example, it works like the following.

Such a contract itself is not necessarily bad.
However, if the explanation before moving in is insufficient, it is easy to lead to dissatisfaction such as "I signed the contract thinking the rent was cheap, but I was charged for utilities later." Therefore, at LLC-HOUSE, we do not add utility charges based on air conditioner usage as long as it is for normal daily life.

■ [Important] Generally, "all-you-can-use" does not mean you are free to do anything

Even if it says "utilities included" or "no additional charges," it does not mean you are completely free to do anything legally or practically. Generally, expressions like "all-you-can-use" or "fixed rate" should be considered within the scope of normal daily life.
For example, using air conditioning in summer, using heating in winter, or using the air conditioner during daily life by someone who spends a lot of time at home is within a natural range.
However, the following ways of using it may exceed normal daily life.

At LLC-HOUSE, in such cases, rather than "adding utility charges later," it may be subject to warnings or requests for improvement as a violation of communal living rules or nuisance behavior.
In other words, we do not charge extra for normal air conditioning use. However, we do not approve of usage that inconveniences other residents.

■ Why we can operate without additional charges
Based on our experience of operating over 20 share houses in Tokyo for over 10 years, LLC-HOUSE designs fees that anticipate fluctuations in utility costs for each property in advance.
In share houses, electricity bills tend to rise due to air conditioning in summer and heating in winter. Therefore, it is necessary to operate by considering not only the monthly utility costs but also the average annual cost, the number of residents, facility conditions, and how shared areas are used. At LLC-HOUSE, based on these practical cost fluctuations, we
include running costs in the rent. For those looking for a share house, the benefit is that the monthly payment amount is easy to understand and unexpected additional charges are unlikely to occur.

■ Points to check before signing a contract
When choosing a share house, we recommend that you check not only the rent, but also how water, electricity, gas, and common service fees are handled. In particular, you should check the following points.

Even if it says "common service fees included" or "utility costs included," the actual handling differs depending on the contract details.
Therefore, it is important to confirm the existence and criteria for additional charges before moving in.
LLC-HOUSE has an easy-to-understand fee structure.
For normal daily use, we will not charge additional water or utility fees later just because you used the air conditioner in summer or winter. Making monthly housing costs easy to understand and"providing a life where you don't have to worry about variable costs after moving in, unlike regular rentals"is one of the operational policies that LLC-HOUSE values as a convenience of share house living.

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We plan and operate over 20 share houses, mainly in Tokyo, with monthly rents starting from the 30,000 yen range. We have over 10 years of operational experience and are committed to safe and secure share house management.